Haryana polls: Khattar, Chautala and tale of 2 cycles and a tractor on polling day

Haryana polls: Khattar, Chautala and tale of 2 cycles and a tractor on polling day

Symbolism was at play on the voting day in Haryana as politicians tried to woo voters using everyday modes of transportation to reach polling booths.

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Manjeet Sehgal

Chandigarh

October 21, 2019

UPDATED: October 22, 2019 18:43 IST

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar using a cycle to reach his polling booth in Karnal on Monday. (Photo: Facebook.ManoharLalKhattar)

Of all days during an election campaign, the day of voting rules the roost when it comes to symbolism. Monday, when Haryana went to polls for the assembly elections was no different with leaders trying to woo voters at the last minute. While Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar used the humble bicycle to project a common man image, Jannayak Janata Party chief Dushyant Chautala opted to travel by tractor, a vehicle that has widespread presence in agrarian Haryana.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar boarded the Shatabdi Express from Chandigarh to travel to Karnal, the nearest stop to his hometown Prem Nagar. Khattar spent around 15 minutes at his home, following which he took out a bicycle and headed towards the local polling booth to cast his vote.

He was followed by nearly 20 other cyclists, including Karnal BJP president Jagmohan Anand.

"I prefer a simple lifestyle. I am conscious about fitness and regularly cycle to keep myself fit. I want people to cycle to keep themselves fit," Manohar Lal Khattar told mediapersons on his way to the polling booth.

However, once the vote was cast, the cycles were abandoned as Manohar Lal Khattar and other BJP leaders checked-in Hotel Jewels and stayed there till 2pm. The chief minister later left for Chandhigarh, this time not in the Shatabdi Express, but in a car.

Meanwhile, Dushyant Singh Chautala, who formed the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) after he was expelled from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) by his grandfather and former Hayana Chief Minister OP Chautala, used a tractor to reach his polling station in Sirsa. His mother, Naina Chautala, and other family members were also seen riding the vehicle.

"Tractor is a popular mode of transportation in Haryana. It is also our identity," Dushyant Chautala said. He claimed his party is forming the next government in Haryana as people are "looking for a change".\

This wasn't the first time when Dushyant Chautala used a tractor to make a point.

On December 15, 2017, he reached Parliament in a tractor to protest against the amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act. He had sought permission from the Lok Sabha Speaker to use tractor as a mode of transport to reach Parliament.

The third leader who tried to make a statement on Monday was Ran Singh Panwar, a candidate of the Rashtriya Bhagidari Party. He is contesting from Hisar and campaigned using a cycle, which he also to reach the polling booth on Monday.

"Cycle is a common man's vehicle. I used it for campaigning. I also used it to reach the polling station. It is environment friendly and its use should be promoted," he said.